CA2105383A1 - Apparatus for and method of removing liquids - Google Patents
Apparatus for and method of removing liquidsInfo
- Publication number
- CA2105383A1 CA2105383A1 CA 2105383 CA2105383A CA2105383A1 CA 2105383 A1 CA2105383 A1 CA 2105383A1 CA 2105383 CA2105383 CA 2105383 CA 2105383 A CA2105383 A CA 2105383A CA 2105383 A1 CA2105383 A1 CA 2105383A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- conduit
- liquid
- detector
- tube
- pipe
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17D—PIPE-LINE SYSTEMS; PIPE-LINES
- F17D3/00—Arrangements for supervising or controlling working operations
- F17D3/14—Arrangements for supervising or controlling working operations for eliminating water
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01M—TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G01M3/00—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures
- G01M3/005—Investigating fluid-tightness of structures using pigs or moles
Abstract
The presence of a liquid, such as water which has collected as a pool in gas pipes is detected, and the detected liquid is removed from the pipes. The apparatus comprises a conduit (2), a liquid detector (3) mounted within a nose cone (4) which is connected to an end of the conduit (2), and an indicator (5) which indicates when the detector has detected liquid. A pump (9) which is connected to the conduit (2) is operated to pump the detected liquid along the conduit away from the detector.
Description
W093/14388 210 5 3 8 ~CT/GB93/0~07 APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF REMOVING LIOUIDS
The present invention relates to the removal of liquids and, more particularly though not exclusively, to the removal of liquids, such as water or monoethylene glycol (MEG), from gas pipelines.
The UK gas distribution system for distributing natural gas to premises comprises many miles of low pressure gas mains pipework.
Where these low pressure gas mains are laid in areas with high water tables, water may enter the mains where joints between adjacent lengths of pipe develop leaks.
The distribution system still includes many miles of the old style cast iron mains which were installed before natural gas was used in the system. These mains are gradually being replaced by polyethylene pipe. Adjacent cast iron mains pipes have lead/yarn joints, and in order for such joints to remain gas tight, the packing material (jute or hemp fibres) should be maintained in a swollen state. However, natural gas is a dry gas which tends to cause the packing material to dry out and shrink and possibly result in some gas leakage at the joints. To prevent this problem occurring the natural gas is conditioned with MEG which may be introduced continuously in vapour form into the pipework by "fogging units". The MEG serves as a yarn swellant. Where excess MEG is present it may condense as droplets on the pipe walls and form pools of liquid MEG which it may be desirable to remove.
SUE~T~T;J T - 5H~
WQ93/14388 ` ` PCT/GB93/00007 ~ 3 ` 2~0a383 replaced by a new unit should, for example, the detector develop a fault.
Preferably, the tube, or a portion of the conduit in the vicinity of the detector, is weighted or made of a sufficiently dense material to facilitate the maintenance of contact between the tube or said conduit portion with a surface towards which it is urged by gravity. Thus, for example, when the conduit is moved lengthwise through a generally horizontal gas mains pipe the tube tends to move along the lower portion or bottom of the pipe where any pools of liquid would collect;
Conveniently, the conduit is flexible. This allows the conduit, for example, to follow bends in a pipe as the conduit is moved through the pipe. However, preferably, the conduit is sufficiently rigid to permit it to be fed forwardly in stages from one end along a generally horizontal path in a generally lengthwise direction such that the one end remains ahead of the remaining portion of the conduit being fed along.
The detector may be a liquid level switch detector, for example an optical liquid level switch detector. Alternatively, the detector may comprise two electrical contacts which when bridged by an electrically conducting liquid causes the completion of an electric circuit and activates the indicator. However, the optical switch detector is preferred because it is capable of detecting non-conducting liquids as well as electrically conducting liquids. Thus, this form of detector is suitable for SUBSTll~lJTE SHEE~
`
.
: . .. ` , . . :
,, . ~ .. ` .
.
.
W093/14388 PCT/GB93/00~07 ~ 5 2105383 The method may be employed to detect and remove pools of liquid, such as MEG or water, from pipes; in which case the conduit is moved along or throu~h a pipe.
The conduit may be introduced into the pipe via an entry device which incorporates a seal between the conduit and the pipe wall.
This facilitates use of the method, for example, on a live gas maln .
The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-Figure 1 is a schematic view of one embodiment of apparatusaccording to the invention, Figure 2 is an axial section view, on a larger scale, through the leading end of the conduit and the attached nose cone of the apparatus in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view through the nose cone taken on the line III-III in Figure 2, and Figure 4 shows schematically another form of nose cone and detector at the leading end of the conduit.
With reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, apparatus 1 for detecting the presence of a liquid and for removing detected liquid comprises a portable length of conduit 2 and a liquid SUBSTITUTE SHEET
WO93/14388 210 5 3 8 3 PCT/GB93/~07 the front end 17 and having the rear end 18 open and fitting securely into the leading end 2a of the conduit. The front portion of the nose cone contains a lead weight filling l9 which assists, as the conduit is fed along the pipe, in keeping the nose cone and conduit 2 on the bottom or lower portion of the pipe where pools of liquid may have collected.
The tubular portion 16a of the tube 16 behind the lead weight fitting l9 serves as a housing or casing for locating both the liquid detector 3 and a one-way or non-return valve 20. The valve 20 functions in a manner to prevent liquid which has been pumped away from the nose cone through the conduit from draining or running back past the valve into the pipe when the pump has been switched off.
The valve comprises a tubular body 22 which defines an annular valve seat 23 and houses a valve member 24 which is slidably movable within the body 22. The valve mPmber 24 is biased towards the valve seat 23 by a helical compression spring 25 which acts against a shoulder 26a provided by an externally threaded ring member 26 which is screwed into one end of the body.
The detector 3 used by the applicants in their experiments with this embodiment was a solid state optical liquid level switch supplied by RS (Radio Spares) Components Limited. The detector, as supplied, was modified so as to screw into the opposite end of the tubular body 22 of the valve to form therewith an SUB~;Tl . UTE SHE~T
.. . . . ~ .
- .
.
.
.. ., ~ ;
W O 93/14388 PC~r/G B93/00007 ~ 9 210~383 When the conduit 2 is pushed through a pipe and a pool of liquid, such as a pool of water is encountered by the nose cone 4, then if the liquid is of sufficient depth to enter the tube 16 and tubular body 22 and be detected by the detector 3 the electrical circuit incorporating the detector and meter/buzzer device 5 is completed. The position of the indicator needle 5a of the meter will then provide a visual indication of the presence of liquid in the pipe, whilst the buzzer will sound to provide an audible indication of the presence of liquid. With the valve 14 open, the qenerator 10 can then be switched on to activate the pump 9 to draw or suck the water past the valve 20 into the conduit, past the filter 13 and (open) valve 14, and into the vessel 12 where the water is collected.
Where the apparatus is used in a live gas main the conduit may be introduced into the main via an entry device (not shown), incorporating a gland or like sealing arrangement, mounted on the main over a hole which has previously been tapped through the wall of the main.
If gas is removed from the main through the conduit it separates from the liquid and is vented via the flame trap 11.
Conveniently, the apparatus described above (apart from the liquid collection vessel 12) may be mounted on a transportable supporting frame, with the conduit stored in a wound up condition when not in use (not shown), so that the apparatus can readily be moved from one location to another as required. The SUBST~Tl~TE SHEE~
The present invention relates to the removal of liquids and, more particularly though not exclusively, to the removal of liquids, such as water or monoethylene glycol (MEG), from gas pipelines.
The UK gas distribution system for distributing natural gas to premises comprises many miles of low pressure gas mains pipework.
Where these low pressure gas mains are laid in areas with high water tables, water may enter the mains where joints between adjacent lengths of pipe develop leaks.
The distribution system still includes many miles of the old style cast iron mains which were installed before natural gas was used in the system. These mains are gradually being replaced by polyethylene pipe. Adjacent cast iron mains pipes have lead/yarn joints, and in order for such joints to remain gas tight, the packing material (jute or hemp fibres) should be maintained in a swollen state. However, natural gas is a dry gas which tends to cause the packing material to dry out and shrink and possibly result in some gas leakage at the joints. To prevent this problem occurring the natural gas is conditioned with MEG which may be introduced continuously in vapour form into the pipework by "fogging units". The MEG serves as a yarn swellant. Where excess MEG is present it may condense as droplets on the pipe walls and form pools of liquid MEG which it may be desirable to remove.
SUE~T~T;J T - 5H~
WQ93/14388 ` ` PCT/GB93/00007 ~ 3 ` 2~0a383 replaced by a new unit should, for example, the detector develop a fault.
Preferably, the tube, or a portion of the conduit in the vicinity of the detector, is weighted or made of a sufficiently dense material to facilitate the maintenance of contact between the tube or said conduit portion with a surface towards which it is urged by gravity. Thus, for example, when the conduit is moved lengthwise through a generally horizontal gas mains pipe the tube tends to move along the lower portion or bottom of the pipe where any pools of liquid would collect;
Conveniently, the conduit is flexible. This allows the conduit, for example, to follow bends in a pipe as the conduit is moved through the pipe. However, preferably, the conduit is sufficiently rigid to permit it to be fed forwardly in stages from one end along a generally horizontal path in a generally lengthwise direction such that the one end remains ahead of the remaining portion of the conduit being fed along.
The detector may be a liquid level switch detector, for example an optical liquid level switch detector. Alternatively, the detector may comprise two electrical contacts which when bridged by an electrically conducting liquid causes the completion of an electric circuit and activates the indicator. However, the optical switch detector is preferred because it is capable of detecting non-conducting liquids as well as electrically conducting liquids. Thus, this form of detector is suitable for SUBSTll~lJTE SHEE~
`
.
: . .. ` , . . :
,, . ~ .. ` .
.
.
W093/14388 PCT/GB93/00~07 ~ 5 2105383 The method may be employed to detect and remove pools of liquid, such as MEG or water, from pipes; in which case the conduit is moved along or throu~h a pipe.
The conduit may be introduced into the pipe via an entry device which incorporates a seal between the conduit and the pipe wall.
This facilitates use of the method, for example, on a live gas maln .
The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-Figure 1 is a schematic view of one embodiment of apparatusaccording to the invention, Figure 2 is an axial section view, on a larger scale, through the leading end of the conduit and the attached nose cone of the apparatus in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view through the nose cone taken on the line III-III in Figure 2, and Figure 4 shows schematically another form of nose cone and detector at the leading end of the conduit.
With reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, apparatus 1 for detecting the presence of a liquid and for removing detected liquid comprises a portable length of conduit 2 and a liquid SUBSTITUTE SHEET
WO93/14388 210 5 3 8 3 PCT/GB93/~07 the front end 17 and having the rear end 18 open and fitting securely into the leading end 2a of the conduit. The front portion of the nose cone contains a lead weight filling l9 which assists, as the conduit is fed along the pipe, in keeping the nose cone and conduit 2 on the bottom or lower portion of the pipe where pools of liquid may have collected.
The tubular portion 16a of the tube 16 behind the lead weight fitting l9 serves as a housing or casing for locating both the liquid detector 3 and a one-way or non-return valve 20. The valve 20 functions in a manner to prevent liquid which has been pumped away from the nose cone through the conduit from draining or running back past the valve into the pipe when the pump has been switched off.
The valve comprises a tubular body 22 which defines an annular valve seat 23 and houses a valve member 24 which is slidably movable within the body 22. The valve mPmber 24 is biased towards the valve seat 23 by a helical compression spring 25 which acts against a shoulder 26a provided by an externally threaded ring member 26 which is screwed into one end of the body.
The detector 3 used by the applicants in their experiments with this embodiment was a solid state optical liquid level switch supplied by RS (Radio Spares) Components Limited. The detector, as supplied, was modified so as to screw into the opposite end of the tubular body 22 of the valve to form therewith an SUB~;Tl . UTE SHE~T
.. . . . ~ .
- .
.
.
.. ., ~ ;
W O 93/14388 PC~r/G B93/00007 ~ 9 210~383 When the conduit 2 is pushed through a pipe and a pool of liquid, such as a pool of water is encountered by the nose cone 4, then if the liquid is of sufficient depth to enter the tube 16 and tubular body 22 and be detected by the detector 3 the electrical circuit incorporating the detector and meter/buzzer device 5 is completed. The position of the indicator needle 5a of the meter will then provide a visual indication of the presence of liquid in the pipe, whilst the buzzer will sound to provide an audible indication of the presence of liquid. With the valve 14 open, the qenerator 10 can then be switched on to activate the pump 9 to draw or suck the water past the valve 20 into the conduit, past the filter 13 and (open) valve 14, and into the vessel 12 where the water is collected.
Where the apparatus is used in a live gas main the conduit may be introduced into the main via an entry device (not shown), incorporating a gland or like sealing arrangement, mounted on the main over a hole which has previously been tapped through the wall of the main.
If gas is removed from the main through the conduit it separates from the liquid and is vented via the flame trap 11.
Conveniently, the apparatus described above (apart from the liquid collection vessel 12) may be mounted on a transportable supporting frame, with the conduit stored in a wound up condition when not in use (not shown), so that the apparatus can readily be moved from one location to another as required. The SUBST~Tl~TE SHEE~
Claims
1. Apparatus for detecting the presence of a liquid and removing detected liquid, comprising a conduit, a liquid detector which is carried by the conduit, an indicator which is responsive to the detector detecting liquid, and pump means connected to the conduit for pumping detected liquid along the conduit away from the detector.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the detector is located within a housing comprising one or more apertures via which liquid can enter the housing and enter the conduit.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the housing is in the form of a tube which is mounted on one end of the conduit.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which a plurality of said apertures are provided around the periphery of the tube.
5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or 4, in which the tube is in the form of a nose cone.
6. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5, in which the tube or a portion of the conduit in the vicinity of the detector is weighted or made of a sufficiently dense material to facilitate maintenance of contact between the tube or said conduit portion with a surface towards which it is urged by gravity.
of generally tubular form with the openings being disposed around the peripheral wall of the tubular assembly and communicating with an interior region of the assembly between the detector and the valve part of the assembly.
15. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, mounted on a movable support means.
16. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or Figures 1 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
17. A method of detecting the presence of a liquid and removing detected liquid, comprising moving a conduit carrying a liquid detector over regions to detect the presence of liquid overlying such regions, observing the detection of liquid by the detector by means of an indicator which is responsive to the detector detecting liquid, and pumping liquid through the conduit away from the detector.
18. A method as claimed in claim 16, in which the conduit is moved through a pipe.
19. A method as claimed in claim 17, in which the conduit is introduced into the pipe via an entry device which incorporates a seal between the conduit and the pipe wall.
20. A method as claimed in any of claims 17 to 19, employing
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the detector is located within a housing comprising one or more apertures via which liquid can enter the housing and enter the conduit.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the housing is in the form of a tube which is mounted on one end of the conduit.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which a plurality of said apertures are provided around the periphery of the tube.
5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or 4, in which the tube is in the form of a nose cone.
6. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5, in which the tube or a portion of the conduit in the vicinity of the detector is weighted or made of a sufficiently dense material to facilitate maintenance of contact between the tube or said conduit portion with a surface towards which it is urged by gravity.
of generally tubular form with the openings being disposed around the peripheral wall of the tubular assembly and communicating with an interior region of the assembly between the detector and the valve part of the assembly.
15. Apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, mounted on a movable support means.
16. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 or Figures 1 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
17. A method of detecting the presence of a liquid and removing detected liquid, comprising moving a conduit carrying a liquid detector over regions to detect the presence of liquid overlying such regions, observing the detection of liquid by the detector by means of an indicator which is responsive to the detector detecting liquid, and pumping liquid through the conduit away from the detector.
18. A method as claimed in claim 16, in which the conduit is moved through a pipe.
19. A method as claimed in claim 17, in which the conduit is introduced into the pipe via an entry device which incorporates a seal between the conduit and the pipe wall.
20. A method as claimed in any of claims 17 to 19, employing
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBGB9200205.4 | 1992-01-07 | ||
| GB9200205A GB2263325B (en) | 1992-01-07 | 1992-01-07 | Apparatus for and method of removing liquids |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2105383A1 true CA2105383A1 (en) | 1993-07-08 |
Family
ID=10708185
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2105383 Abandoned CA2105383A1 (en) | 1992-01-07 | 1993-01-06 | Apparatus for and method of removing liquids |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0578792A1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2105383A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2263325B (en) |
| PL (1) | PL170128B1 (en) |
| RU (1) | RU2075739C1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1993014388A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20100109886A1 (en) * | 2008-11-06 | 2010-05-06 | Eddy Kafry | Retrofit apparatus and method for gas line moisture detection and removal |
| RU2484358C1 (en) * | 2011-12-19 | 2013-06-10 | Федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего профессионального образования "Санкт-Петербургский государственный горный университет" | Device for removing accumulated liquid or gas from troublesome sections of oil and gas lines |
| CN103424229A (en) * | 2012-05-23 | 2013-12-04 | 北汽福田汽车股份有限公司 | Device and method for detecting leakproofness of vehicle exhaust system |
| US9328858B2 (en) * | 2013-03-18 | 2016-05-03 | Ulc Robotics, Inc. | System for extracting liquid from a pipeline and method for producing such a system |
| RU191415U1 (en) * | 2019-03-06 | 2019-08-05 | Публичное акционерное общество "Татнефть" имени В.Д. Шашина | Device for removing liquid from a condensate collector |
| RU201908U1 (en) * | 2020-06-17 | 2021-01-21 | Общество с ограниченной ответственностью "Газпром трансгаз Казань" | A device to prevent water from entering an operating gas pipeline |
Family Cites Families (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4881567A (en) * | 1987-12-02 | 1989-11-21 | Brooklyn Union Gas | Liquid removal system |
-
1992
- 1992-01-07 GB GB9200205A patent/GB2263325B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1993
- 1993-01-06 RU RU9393056854A patent/RU2075739C1/en active
- 1993-01-06 WO PCT/GB1993/000007 patent/WO1993014388A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1993-01-06 CA CA 2105383 patent/CA2105383A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1993-01-06 PL PL93300600A patent/PL170128B1/en unknown
- 1993-01-06 EP EP19930901056 patent/EP0578792A1/en not_active Ceased
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2263325A (en) | 1993-07-21 |
| GB9200205D0 (en) | 1992-02-26 |
| GB2263325B (en) | 1995-11-01 |
| EP0578792A1 (en) | 1994-01-19 |
| WO1993014388A1 (en) | 1993-07-22 |
| RU2075739C1 (en) | 1997-03-20 |
| PL170128B1 (en) | 1996-10-31 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Dead |